clamshell
noun
clam·shell
ˈklam-ˌshel 
1
: the shell of a clam
2
a
: a bucket or grapple (as on a dredge) having two hinged jaws
b
: an excavating machine having a clamshell
c
: either of a pair of doors (as in an airplane tail) that open out and away from each other
d
: a hinged container, case, or cover that opens like the shell of a clam
Examples of clamshell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The clamshell design speeds your packing, while the LightWire frame, ventilated Airscape backpanel, and hipbelt ease the carry.
—
Outside, 17 Nov. 2025
But instead of a simple clamshell body and inflatable cabin tent, Mitsubishi imagines it having a multipart expansion system that starts with the glassy slide-out module shown up top and continues with a rear tailgate, lift-up side hatch and slide-out kitchen.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
The basement housed a beauty shop and barber shop, with shimmering, psychedelic floral wallpaper, and a clamshell phone booth.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Zauner, who’s wrapping up her own tour this fall, brought a piece of her set design, a giant clamshell, to Roan’s stage.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clamshell
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Outside, 17 Nov. 2025
But instead of a simple clamshell body and inflatable cabin tent, Mitsubishi imagines it having a multipart expansion system that starts with the glassy slide-out module shown up top and continues with a rear tailgate, lift-up side hatch and slide-out kitchen.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
The basement housed a beauty shop and barber shop, with shimmering, psychedelic floral wallpaper, and a clamshell phone booth.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Zauner, who’s wrapping up her own tour this fall, brought a piece of her set design, a giant clamshell, to Roan’s stage.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clamshell
Cite this Entry
“Clamshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clamshell. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clamshell
noun
clam·shell
ˈklam-ˌshel
: the shell of a clam
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share